Suspending equipment

ABSTRACT

Means for suspending equipment ( 21 ) from an overhead structural member ( 16 ) comprises a suspension strand ( 10 ), e.g. a length of wire rope, with a nipple ( 11 ) at one end, a toggle plate ( 12 ) with an aperture ( 13 ) through which the strand can pass but not the nipple, together with a locking device ( 18 ) having twin bores ( 17 A,  17 B) associated with wedging means ( 19 A,  19 B), the toggle plate ( 12 ) and nipple ( 11 ) being pushed through a hole ( 15  or  34 ) in the overhead structural member ( 16 ) or the equipment ( 21 ), for the toggle plate to overlie or underlie the hole, while the free end ( 14 ) of the strand ( 10 ) is passed through one bore ( 17 A) of the locking device ( 18 ), through an eye ( 20 ) on the equipment ( 21 ) or round the equipment or through an eye ( 35 ) on the overhead structural member ( 16 ) or round the overhead structural member, and finally through the other bore ( 17 B) of the locking device ( 18 ).

[0001] This invention relates to means for and methods of suspendingequipment (such as lighting, heating, trunking or ventilation units)from an overhead structural member (such as a roof, ceiling, beam orgirder).

[0002] According to one aspect of the present invention, means forsuspending equipment from an overhead structural member comprises asuspension strand and a locking device having twin bores at least one ofwhich is associated with wedging means (e.g. a ball, roller or wedge)preventing withdrawal of the free end of the suspension strand; (i.e.the end remote from the nipple) in the opposite direction to insertion,both known per se from EP-A-0 926 393, characterized in that there isprovided a nipple at one end of the suspension strand, a toggle platehaving a length appreciably greater than its width, an aperture in thetoggle plate elongate in the lengthwise direction of the toggle platebut of a width preventing passing of the nipple through the aperture,the free end of the suspension strand being able to pass through theaperture until the toggle plate abuts or lies captive adjacent thenipple.

[0003] Thus, in one method of suspending equipment from an overheadstructural member in accordance with the invention a hole is providedthrough the overhead member, the toggle plate is angled into doselengthwise alignment with the suspension strand adjacent the nipple, thetoggle plate is passed with the nipple through the hole in the overheadmember, and the toggle plate is realigned predominantly perpendicularlyto the suspension strand and bridging the topside of the hole,whereafter the free end of the strand is passed through one bore of thelocking device, then through an eye provided on the equipment or passedround the equipment, and through the other bore of the locking devicewherein the strand is secured by the wedging means.

[0004] In another method in accordance with the invention, a hole isprovided in the equipment to be suspended, or a supporting membertherefor, the angled toggle plate is passed with the nipple through thehole and realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the suspensionstrand and bridging the underside of the hole, whereafter the free endof the strand is passed through one bore of the locking device, thenthrough an eye provided on the overhead structural member or passed overthe member, and through the other bore of the locking device wherein thestrand is secured by the wedging means

[0005] With either method, the level at which the equipment is suspendedcan be adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device upwards ordownwards, as the case may be, or by pulling the free end of thesuspension strand further through the locking device, which may beprovided with temporary release means for its wedging means to enablethe level at which the equipment is suspended to be adjusted downwards.

[0006] The suspension strand may be a length of wire or wire rope, or ofany other suitable material, with the nipple formed by a separate memberwith a hole in which the end of the strand is secured by swaging thewhole or part of the separate member, which may be formed with anenlarged formation to abut a substantial area of the toggle plate oneach side of the aperture.

[0007] Each bore of the locking device may be associated with wedgingmeans, so that the locking device can be used either way up.

[0008] An equipment suspension kit in accordance with the inventioncomprising a suspension strand with a nipple, a toggle plate with anaperture, and a locking device, as aforesaid, may also include plasticssleeving for slipping over part of the suspension strand expected tocontact the equipment to be suspended, e.g. to minimise vibration ornoise; and a tensioning tool, such as a blind rivetting tool, may beincluded for tensioning the suspension strand by application of the toolto the free end of the suspension strand after it has passed through thesecond bore of the locking device.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention will now be desribed, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a suspension strand with a nippleand toggle plate in accordance with the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an elevation of the upper end of the strand of FIG. 1 asseen from the left hand side thereof;

[0012]FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 but shows the nipple and toggle platebeing passed through a hole in an overhead structural member;

[0013]FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3 but shows the toggle plate orientatedto prevent withdrawal of the nipple through the hole;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a downward extension of FIG. 4 showing one method inaccordance with the invention by which the strand can be used with alocking device to suspend equipment from the overhead structural member,

[0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the lockingdevice;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a small scale elevation showing a pair of suspensionstrands as in FIGS. 1 to 4 and a pair of locking devices as in FIGS. 5and 6 being used in another method in accordance with the invention; and

[0017]FIGS. 8 and 9 are further small scale elevations illustrating twofurther methods of suspending equipment from overhead structural membersin accordance with the invention.

[0018] In FIGS. 1 to 4, a suspension strand 10 formed by a length ofwire rope has a nipple 11 at one end, and a toggle plate 12 having alength appreciably greater than its width has an aperture 13 elongate inthe lengthwise direction of the toggle plate but of a width preventingpassing of the nipple 11 through the aperture, the free end 14 of thestrand being passed through the aperture until the toggle plate liescaptive adjacent the nipple.

[0019] In FIGS. 1 to 3, the toggle plate 12 is shown angled into closelengthwise alignment with the strand 10 adjacent the nipple 11, toenable the nipple and the toggle plate to be passed through a hole 15 inan overhead structural member 16, as illustrated by FIG. 3, and then thetoggle plate is realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the strandand bridging the topside of the hole, as shown in FIG. 4, whereafter thefree end 14 of the strand is passed through one bore 17A of a lockingdevice 18 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) having twin bores 17A, 17B associated withwedging means 19A, 19B preventing withdrawal of the free end of thestrand in the opposite direction to insertion. Further, as illustratedby FIG. 5, the free end of the strand can be passed through an eye 20provided on equipment 21 to be suspended and through the other bore 17Bof the locking device 18, to secure the equipment suspended from theoverhead structural member.

[0020] The nipple 11 is formed by a separate member with a hole 22 inwhich the end of the strand 10 is secured by swaging part of theseparate member, the remainder of which is an enlarged formation 23 toabut a substantial area of the toggle plate 12 on each side of theaperture 13.

[0021] Although the wedging means 19B in the bore 17B of the device inthe disposition shown in FIG. 5 would suffice to secure the equipment 21suspended from the overhead structural member 16, the provision ofwedging means in both bores 17A, 17B is preferred so that the lockingdevice 18 can be used either way up. The level at which the equipment issuspended can be adjusted upwards by pulling the connector upwards or bypulling the free end 14 of the strand further through the lockingdevice, e.g. by means of a tensioning tool (not shown but, for example,a blind rivetting tool). To enable the level to be adjusted downwardsthe locking device may be provided with temporary release means for itswedging means, as will be exemplified in the following detaileddescription of the locking device.

[0022] As can be seen in FIG. 6 the wedging means 19A, 19B comprisewedges slidable along respective channels 24A, 24B in the body 25 of thelocking device 18, each channel converging at an acute angle to and intocommunication with a respective one of the twin bores 17A, 17B (whichare separated by a thin wall 26) towards an inlet end 27A or 27B of thatrespective bore, the wedges 19A, 19B being provided with transverse ribs28 (or teeth or other surface formations) for gripping engagement withthe strand 10 (when inserted) under the urge of compression springs 29A,29B between the wedges and recessed abutments 30A, 30B adjacent outletends 31A, 31B of the respective bores 17A, 17B. Apertures 32A, 32B inthe body 25 of the locking device 18 each have an inner end opening intoa respective channel 24A or 24B and is available as a guide for aseparate tool(not shown) pushed into the channel to move the respectivewedge against its spring urge to enable the strand to be freedtemporarily for adjustment of the position of the locking device withrespect to the strand and thereby also the level of the suspendedequipment 21.

[0023] In FIG. 7, an item of equipment 21 or a support for an item ofequipment is shown suspended by a pair of strands 10 and a pair oflocking devices 18 but, instead of providing eyes on the equipment, thefree ends 14 of the strands are passed round the equipment after passingthrough the bores 17A in the devices 18 and before passing through thebores 17B, lengths of plastics sleeving 33 being slipped over parts ofthe suspension strands where they would otherwise contact the equipment,e.g. to minimise vibration or noise.

[0024] In each of FIGS. 8 and 9 a hole 34 is provided in the item ofequipment 21, the angled toggle plate 12 on the strand 10 is passed withthe nipple 11 through the hole and realigned predominantlyperpendicularly to the strand and bridging the underside of the hole,whereafter, in FIG. 8 the free end 14 of the strand is passed throughone bore 17A of the device 18, then through an eye 35 provided on theoverhead structural member 16 and through the other bore 17B of thelocking device wherein the strand is secured by the wedging means, whilein FIG. 9 the strand is passed over the member 16 after passing throughthe bore 17A in the device 18 and before passing through the other bore17B of the locking device.

[0025] The level at which the equipment is suspended in the manner ofFIG. 8 or FIG. 9 can be adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device18 downwards or by pulling the free end 14 of the suspension strand 10further through the locking device. Again, temporary release means forthe wedging means may be provided as described in relation to FIG. 6 toenable the level at which the equipment is suspended to be adjusteddownwards.

1-17. (Canceled).
 18. Means for suspending equipment (21) from anoverhead structural member (16) comprising a suspension strand (10) anda locking device (18) having twin bores (17A, 17B) at least one of whichis associated with wedging means (19A or 19B) preventing withdrawal ofthe free end (14) of the suspension strand (10) in the oppositedirection to insertion, characterized in that there is provided a nipple(11) at one end of the suspension strand, a toggle plate (12) having alength appreciably greater than its width, an aperture (13) in thetoggle plate elongate in the lengthwise direction of the toggle platebut of a width preventing passing of the nipple through the aperture,the free end (14) of the suspension strand (10) being able to passthrough the aperture (13) until the toggle plate (12) abuts or liescaptive adjacent the nipple (11).
 19. Equipment suspending means as inclaim 18, characterized in that the suspension strand (10) is a lengthof wire or wire rope.
 20. Equipment suspending means as in claim 18characterized in that the nipple (11) is formed by a separate memberwith a hole (22) in which the end of the strand (10) is secured byswaging the whole or part of the separate member.
 21. Equipmentsuspending means as in claim 20, characterized in that the separatemember is formed with an enlarged formation (23) to abut a substantialarea of the toggle plate (12) on each side of the aperture (13). 22.Equipment suspending means as in claim 18, characterized in that eachbore (17A, 17B) of the locking device (18) is associated with wedgingmeans (19A, 19B), so that the locking device (18) can be used either wayup.
 23. A method of suspending equipment (21) from an overheadstructural member (16) using means as in claim 18, characterized in thata hole (15) is provided through the overhead member (16), the toggleplate (12) is angled into close lengthwise alignment with the suspensionstrand (10) adjacent the nipple (11), the toggle plate (12) is passedwith the nipple (11) through the hole (15) in the overhead member (16),and the toggle plate (12) is realigned predominantly perpendicularly tothe suspension strand (10) and bridging the topside of the hole (15),whereafter the free end (14) of the strand (10) is passed through onebore (17A) of the locking device (18), then through an eye (20) providedon the equipment (21) or passed round the equipment, and through theother bore (17B) of the locking device (18) wherein the strand (10) issecured by the wedging means (19B).
 24. A method of suspending equipment(21) from an overhead structural member (16) using means as in claim 18,characterized in that a hole (34) is provided in the equipment (21) tobe suspended, the angled toggle plate (12) is passed with the nipple(13) through the hole (34) and realigned predominantly perpendicularlyto the suspension strand (10) and bridging the underside of the hole(34), whereafter the free end (14) of the strand (10) is passed throughone bore (17A) of the locking device (18), then through an eye (35)provided on the overhead structural member (16) or passed over themember, and through the other bore (17B) of the locking device (18)wherein the strand (10) is secured by the wedging means (19B).
 25. Anequipment suspending method as in claim 23 or claim 24, characterized inthat the level at which the equipment (21) is suspended is adjustedupwards by pulling the locking device (18) upwards or downwards, as thecase may be.
 26. An equipment suspending method as in claim 23 or 24,characterized in that the level at which the equipment (21) is suspendedis adjusted upwards by pulling the free end (14) of the suspensionstrand (10) further through the locking device (18).
 27. A method as inclaim 23, characterized in that temporary release means (32A, 32B) isprovided for the wedging means (19A, 19B) of the locking device (18) toenable the level at which the equipment (21) is suspended to be adjusteddownwards.
 28. A method as in claim 23, with the suspension strand (10)passing round the equipment (21), characterized in that plasticssleeving (33) is slipped over part of the suspension strand (10)otherwise expected to contact the equipment.
 29. An equipment suspensionkit characterized by a suspension strand (10) with a nipple, (11) atoggle plate (12) with an aperture (13), and a locking device (18) as inclaim 18, together with plastics sleeving (33) for slipping over part ofthe suspension strand (10) expected to contact the equipment (21) to besuspended. 30-34. (Canceled)